Transitions, . . . and Stuff

Yesterday was our second Sunday worshiping at Grace Baptist in Greenville, and although we've enjoying our time in Greenville, both Sonja and I miss being at FRBC in Philadelphia. Its kinda funny how churches do Sunday worship differently, and how things that I used to consider distracting or kinda weird become endearing and wonderful as you get used to them. I know that this will eventually happen at Grace Baptist (GBC), but it makes me miss FRBC a lot. At the end of the morning service, we celebrated the Lord's Supper, and it was so good to be reminded by the bread & juice that Christ died for us, so that not only is our sin atoned for, but also that in Christ's death and resurrection, we are freed to walk in a new way of resurrection mode of living. It was also sad, because it was our first communion not with our fellowship at FRBC in a very long time.

Last night Sonja and I took the evening to go out to Furman Campus, walk around the lake, and spend some time talking about the struggles of moving, the joy of being together, and the ways we need to work on our marriage. We also spent some time discussing the end of II Thessalonians 2, where Paul, in the midst of his discussion on the man of lawlessness, keeps reminding the Thessalonians that the truth is not simply something to be believed, but the truth is something which is to be loved, the only alternative to which is to take pleasure in unrighteousness.

The truth of which Paul speaks, as he notes in the passage, is probably generally referring to the traditions and teaching which Paul passed on to the Thessalonians both in his letters and in his verbal teaching, thus probably centering both on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, as well as the implications which flow out of that "truth".

As I was thinking yesterday, it struck me that the truth of Jesus' resurrection is quite a fact. I believe it to be the lynchpin of Christianity, for without his resurrection, his death is quite meaningless (as Paul notes in I Cor. 15). However, according to Paul, the truth is not simply something to be believed, but something to be loved (2 Thess. 2) and something to be obeyed (obedience of faith- Romans).

Drinking the juice and eating the bread reminded me that participation in the resurrection of Jesus offers both comforts and joys to us as it places demands and necessities on us as well. We, in union with Christ, have been raised to walk in resurrection life now. While we await heaven and all its glories, we live now on earth, following Jesus as his disciples.

I Cor. 5:14-15- For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

As Christians, we live now, for Jesus. Sonja and I spent a long time discussing our fears of the future- missing friendships in Philly, the thought of a monthly house-payment, the adjustment of a new church and worship situation, the sadness of missing Sonja's family, the ugliness of the selfishness we each bring to our marriage. The only thing which makes this bearable, and even commendable, is the reminder that Jesus has died and been resurrected for us. If we are to not only believe this fact, but love it, it must come home to us. We are here to serve Christ. If we lose that focus, I don't how we cannot be discouraged.

Moving here really drives home the question, not only of why we are here, but of why and for what we now live. Its easy to get into a groove where you just do what you need to do to get by (i.e. schoolwork at Westminster), but every now and then you get a jolt which takes your breath away, and makes you ask, "Why the heck are we doing this?"

As Sonja and I have wrestled with the struggle of leaving our family and friends from the north, we've concluded that there's only one good answer to the "why" question. We believe we're serving Jesus. Otherwise, its not worth it. But if we are serving Jesus, and he does promise to reward us (as Bob read yesterday in Eccl. 12:12, and also in Revelation) then we can seek to please and serve him, knowing that he sees and will reward. He gave himself for us. Now we give ourselves for him by serving his people. Just some thoughts which are giving us hope amidst difficult times. Hope you find encouragement as we have from not only believing, but loving and obeying the reality of Jesus' resurrection.